Lots of exciting artists are coming to Little Italy in a few weeks for the 2010 MissionFederal ArtWalk, and TFM has been enjoying looking at new participants on the excellent ArtWalk web site.

Check out this painting by Donald Archer, working in acrylic over familiar California subject matter in dramatic fashion:

Here’s the catalogue entry from Artwalk with his contact information, both online right now and his booth at California’s largest outdoor art event this April 24 & 25– (click the image to seem more of his work on the ArtWalk web site.)

We’ve been so focused on the 2010 MCASD Art Auction this year that we didn’t take up sponsorship again of another world class art event in San Diego, Mission Federal ArtWalk. In 2009, not only was The Frame Maker an official corporate sponsor of ArtWalk, we also built a business of art scholarship program awarded to an outstanding SDSU art student, Jessica Siemens. This year, we will just be cheering from the sidelines as the April 24 & 25 outdoor art festival in neighboring Little Italy falls just after the MCASD Auction on April 21.

We’ll be faeaturing some of our favorite ArtWalk artists here over the month of April, so check back here for our picks about who not to miss. While you’re around the web, look for this year ArtWalk collateral and check it out when you have the time!.

Good overview of this year’s installment of the Urban Tree project from SanDiego.com‘s David Batterson:

There’s no bark on these “trees,” and dogs won’t be fertilizing them. Urban Trees 6 is this year’s planting of marvelous sculptures downtown along Harbor Drive, from the Cruise Ship Terminal to Hawthorn Street. They’ll be there for a year, and nary a leaf will fall.

The public art project began in 2003, and here’s how it works. Artists submit a model of their urban tree idea, and the Port of San Diego’s public art committee narrows it down to 30 finalists. From those little acorns, great oaks then grow. Each artist gets a base and pole (the tree “trunk”) and $2,500 for materials (whatever the artist wants to use).

It’s interesting while walking along to see how others view the trees….”

TFM friend Lux Art Institue’s Lux @Night listing for this Wednesday from the North County Times.

Lux@Night —- The Lux Art Institute in Encinitas opens its doors at night for refreshments, live music, conversation and the last free chance to view Iva Gueorguieva’s exhibit and the work created during her residency; 7 to 9 p.m.; free and 21 and up only; 1550 S. El Camino Real, Encinitas; $5; 760-436-6611 or luxartinstitute.org.